Well, I did it. I went to see Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) in the 1970's play, Equus. I had seen the play before way back in the early 1980's at a small theatre in Washington DC - Source Theatre for those who remember it.
It is not an easy play to watch at times. Richard Griffiths was fantastic as the psychiatrist. And Daniel Radcliffe, who is only 17 years old, was very good. It has been widely publicised that he has a nude scene. I don't think American Equity would allow a 17 year old to be naked on stage. It is integral to the play though.
I figured it would be selling out every performance but it isn't and was quite easy to get a ticket. Chris, I didn't get a concession on this one.
Quite a crowd gathers at the stage door after the performance. The stage door lets out behind the theatre on a pedestrian street in the heart of the gay district. I grabbed a pint in Rupert St. Bar and watch the stage door activities.
Showing posts with label British theatre. Show all posts
Showing posts with label British theatre. Show all posts
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
The Lady from Dubuque
Finally saw another West End show. The Lady from Dubuque an Edward Albee play starring Maggie Smith with everyone else being American. Peter Francis James plays Oscar oposite Dame Smith's Lady from Dubuque.
And guess what, Chris and Jill, I got a concession. I got a better than half price ticket for being an Equity member. It also helped that I had a very nice box office person.
A rather difficult play but it was worth seeing Maggie Smith (with an American accent) and PFJ. And theatre was beautiful with wonderful acoustics.
I walked around to the stage door before the show to leave a note for PFJ and there was another one of those blue plaques. The theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, was the location of the first performances of two Oscar Wilde plays - The Woman of No Importance and another one I can't remember.
And guess what, Chris and Jill, I got a concession. I got a better than half price ticket for being an Equity member. It also helped that I had a very nice box office person.
A rather difficult play but it was worth seeing Maggie Smith (with an American accent) and PFJ. And theatre was beautiful with wonderful acoustics.
I walked around to the stage door before the show to leave a note for PFJ and there was another one of those blue plaques. The theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, was the location of the first performances of two Oscar Wilde plays - The Woman of No Importance and another one I can't remember.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A big weekend - adventure out of London..part 1
This was really an adventurous weekend. Helene and Nick, the couple from Wisconsin living and working in England, came down with their college group on Friday. I joined them at The History Boys. A really marvelous play and production.
I took the bus back with them and the college group. We arrived at Harlaxton, the University of Evanston (Illinois) former manor house outside of Grantham, north of London. We arrived at 2AM.
Harlaxton is quite the building and complex. I stayed in room 327 right next door to Helene and Nick's spacious end-of-hall room. It was a bit chilly but the bed was very comfortable and it took no time to fall asleep.
Nick gave me a tour of the estate Saturday morning. The following pictures are from various parts of the interiors.
I took the bus back with them and the college group. We arrived at Harlaxton, the University of Evanston (Illinois) former manor house outside of Grantham, north of London. We arrived at 2AM.
Harlaxton is quite the building and complex. I stayed in room 327 right next door to Helene and Nick's spacious end-of-hall room. It was a bit chilly but the bed was very comfortable and it took no time to fall asleep.
Nick gave me a tour of the estate Saturday morning. The following pictures are from various parts of the interiors.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Sunday with Chris and Jill
This time went to play with Chris. We went to matinee of Rock and Roll a Tom Stoppard play. The understudy for the lead was on. I later find out because the lead was receiving an Olivier award. That is the equivalent to a Tony in the US.
A very difficult play to follow. And it was not well acted. The understudy did a fine job. The other actors were just not very good except for the actress playing the daughter. Tricky to describe the plot. I did not understand the beginning of the first act and that made it almost impossible to appreciate the emotion in the second act.
We kind of ran into the Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square. I keep returning there. It is kind of the hub for public gatherings.
I have more visitors this weekend. Helene and Nick who I met at Gracie Kay and Nate's wedding party are spending six months in England. They are coming down to spend the weekend with me.
A very difficult play to follow. And it was not well acted. The understudy did a fine job. The other actors were just not very good except for the actress playing the daughter. Tricky to describe the plot. I did not understand the beginning of the first act and that made it almost impossible to appreciate the emotion in the second act.
We kind of ran into the Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square. I keep returning there. It is kind of the hub for public gatherings.
I have more visitors this weekend. Helene and Nick who I met at Gracie Kay and Nate's wedding party are spending six months in England. They are coming down to spend the weekend with me.
More theatre - Saturday evening - continued
Finally getting a little window of time to update this.
So Jill and I are waiting in line with the other blokes. We're like 5th or 6th and there's this Italian guy behind us who apparently is holding space for two more folks.
At one point I go over to Victoria station - one to see it and two to use the loo. When I get back the Italian guy is now kind of singing and talking to himself. Strange but hey, what ever to pass the time.
They don't actually start selling the "returned" seats until the show starts so it is done rather frantically. We pay our 55 quid each and get great seats in the first balcony third row just off center and Jill has aisle seat which is great for her knee.
Turns out the Italian guy gets seated right next to me.
Billy Elliot, the Musical is a really big show. Lots of cast with kids. Lots of scenery. Just lots of lots. The accents are bit tricky to understand but overall a good show. The kid who plays Billy is tremendous. Turns out he is almost 16 years old and is playing a 12 year old. You wouldn't know it except he is so talented.
Anyway, in the play and movie Billy's mother has passed away but he talks and sees her. In the first act the scene where he reads/sings the letter from his mom is quite emotional. So emotional in fact that the Italian guy starts weeping OUT LOUD. Huge sobs and heavings and ends up pulling out tissues. It is quite amazing and instantly sucks the emotion out of it for me.
Fast forward to the second act. Second act starts and the Italian falls asleep! We get to the part where Billy's dad agrees to let him do the audition and again the Italian goes over the emotionally deep end. Even bigger sobbing and heaving. It is rather uncomfortable. This show has really hit a nerve for this guy.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable show. They are going to have to back down on the accents when it moves to New York.
So Jill and I are waiting in line with the other blokes. We're like 5th or 6th and there's this Italian guy behind us who apparently is holding space for two more folks.
At one point I go over to Victoria station - one to see it and two to use the loo. When I get back the Italian guy is now kind of singing and talking to himself. Strange but hey, what ever to pass the time.
They don't actually start selling the "returned" seats until the show starts so it is done rather frantically. We pay our 55 quid each and get great seats in the first balcony third row just off center and Jill has aisle seat which is great for her knee.
Turns out the Italian guy gets seated right next to me.
Billy Elliot, the Musical is a really big show. Lots of cast with kids. Lots of scenery. Just lots of lots. The accents are bit tricky to understand but overall a good show. The kid who plays Billy is tremendous. Turns out he is almost 16 years old and is playing a 12 year old. You wouldn't know it except he is so talented.
Anyway, in the play and movie Billy's mother has passed away but he talks and sees her. In the first act the scene where he reads/sings the letter from his mom is quite emotional. So emotional in fact that the Italian guy starts weeping OUT LOUD. Huge sobs and heavings and ends up pulling out tissues. It is quite amazing and instantly sucks the emotion out of it for me.
Fast forward to the second act. Second act starts and the Italian falls asleep! We get to the part where Billy's dad agrees to let him do the audition and again the Italian goes over the emotionally deep end. Even bigger sobbing and heaving. It is rather uncomfortable. This show has really hit a nerve for this guy.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable show. They are going to have to back down on the accents when it moves to New York.
Monday, February 19, 2007
More theatre - Saturday evening
Jill and I wanted to see Billy Elliot, the musical and Chris didn't. So after tea we caught a bus to Victoria station. Billy Elliot is at the Victoria Theatre. We had just missed the 38 and had to wait quite a while for the next one.
We made it to the correct bus stop and, of course, when the wrong direction. We only had to walk around the block but it always works out that I go the wrong way.
There weren't any tickets for the show...which is what we expected. The queue for returned tickets was supposed to start at 6pm so we went next door to the Duke of York pub. They wouldn't seat us in the restaurant because we didn't have a booking. The place was practically empty!
At the bottom of the stairs to restaurant just outside the bar area was a little table and two chairs. I ordered two beers and Jill got out the sausage's we had bought (sliced) and we had a little dinner of sausage and beer. It was marvelous.
We went back next door to the theatre a little before 6pm and the line had already started. We were like 5th and 6th I think.
to be continued...
We made it to the correct bus stop and, of course, when the wrong direction. We only had to walk around the block but it always works out that I go the wrong way.
There weren't any tickets for the show...which is what we expected. The queue for returned tickets was supposed to start at 6pm so we went next door to the Duke of York pub. They wouldn't seat us in the restaurant because we didn't have a booking. The place was practically empty!
At the bottom of the stairs to restaurant just outside the bar area was a little table and two chairs. I ordered two beers and Jill got out the sausage's we had bought (sliced) and we had a little dinner of sausage and beer. It was marvelous.
We went back next door to the theatre a little before 6pm and the line had already started. We were like 5th and 6th I think.
to be continued...
Saturday, February 17, 2007
More theatre
After the London Eye we stopped at sushi place. The food comes around in little bowls and plates on a conveyor belt. You take off what you want and they add up the plates and bowls at the end for the charge. Different colored plates are different prices.
Then we hoped on a bus toward Picadilly Square. Chris and Jill and picked up tickets for Boeing, Boeing at the Comedy Theatre.
The play was absolutely hysterical. It is a French farce written in the 1960's. This is a rivival. The British translation is spot on. The story is about a french man who has three different fiances all of which are airline hostessses. So he manages because of their different flight schedules.
Of course, that all ends up blowing up. An old friend of his has stopped by and helps with trying to keep the girls from finding out about each other. There is also an older French maid.
Superbly acted and directed, the timing is incredible. There is a scene between the maid and the friend that had me with tears streaming down my face. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from laughing.
Jill and Chris had gone to this amazing cheese shop near the flat and bought a couple of different cheeses, some bread and wine from the wine shop. We went back to the flat and had a little wine and cheese party.
Then we hoped on a bus toward Picadilly Square. Chris and Jill and picked up tickets for Boeing, Boeing at the Comedy Theatre.
The play was absolutely hysterical. It is a French farce written in the 1960's. This is a rivival. The British translation is spot on. The story is about a french man who has three different fiances all of which are airline hostessses. So he manages because of their different flight schedules.
Of course, that all ends up blowing up. An old friend of his has stopped by and helps with trying to keep the girls from finding out about each other. There is also an older French maid.
Superbly acted and directed, the timing is incredible. There is a scene between the maid and the friend that had me with tears streaming down my face. I thought I was going to have a heart attack from laughing.
Jill and Chris had gone to this amazing cheese shop near the flat and bought a couple of different cheeses, some bread and wine from the wine shop. We went back to the flat and had a little wine and cheese party.
Friday, February 16, 2007
First theatre
Jill and Chris each went to separate matinees on Thursday. Chris had gone out earlier in the day in search of tickets. So much is sold out you can't be too picky.
He really lucked out and got three tickets to a new play at The National. I met them after work at the theatre. The play, The Reporter, was okay. The lead actor was very good and the women were good. Two of the male actors were not so good and the play was too long.
Chris didn't like it at all. I thought it was pretty good -- especially the first act.
He really lucked out and got three tickets to a new play at The National. I met them after work at the theatre. The play, The Reporter, was okay. The lead actor was very good and the women were good. Two of the male actors were not so good and the play was too long.
Chris didn't like it at all. I thought it was pretty good -- especially the first act.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)